Staffing crisis is product of a 'perfect storm' says trainer Stuart Williams

Newmarket trainer Stuart Williams reckons the stable staff shortage in racing is the end of a 'perfect storm' that has been building for more than 40 years.

Born and bred in Newmarket, Williams has seen plenty of changes in the town since he first rode out while at school in the 1970s – not all of it for the better.

Now based at Diomed Stables on Hamilton Road, Williams had his most successful year in 2018, when he sent out 58 winners and bagged more than £720,000 in prize-money, but still struggles to attract staff.

So too do his colleagues. Following research in conjunction with the BHA, ITV Racing this month reported there were 6,734 registered staff in Britain and the estimated shortfall is said to be 1,000 spread evenly across the country.

Williams said: "When I first rode out in Newmarket in the 70s there were 800 horses here, now there are 3,000, so there's no surprise there's a shortfall in staff. There was one lad to two horses in those days, which is unsustainable now."

Newmarket has long been famous for having a mix of nationalities, with people moving to the town firstly from all over Britain and Ireland, and then from Europe, Asia and South America.

Williams said: "In the 70s the Irish came over as the pay was better here. Then there was a spell when a lot of women came into racing, and in the past 15 years Asians, Europeans and South Americans came to make up the shortfall.

"Where we are now is like a perfect storm. The Irish stopped coming and then the authorities made it more difficult for other overseas staff.

"It's not just racing that's struggling as they can't get people to work on farms or pick fruit as it's classed as unskilled labour. However, is riding a racehorse unskilled?"

One factor that has changed in recent times is far more children now stay in education until they are at least 18, and fewer want to come into racing at that point.

At a recent careers evening at Newmarket Academy, a British Racing School display, including an Equicizer, received little attention.

Williams added: "The British Racing School do a great job and 80 per cent of the people on their courses are women, which is fine, but of those that graduate I'm told 80 per cent won't be in racing in five years' time. This is a real problem."

Even in a yard on the up, Williams finds people want more time off.

He said: "I can't get people to go racing out of my yard even though they get £100 for going. It's not money, it seems to be people just prefer to be with their families these days."

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